Illinois' offensive line to face tough Michigan defense
There are no trendy statistics when it comes to offensive line, such as yards after catch, wins per annual salary or touches without a fumble.
Rating receivers, coaches and running backs seems much more simple, and often, much more fun.
"All you have is pride," said Illini offensive line coach Eric Wolford. "You don't have touchdowns, tackles or interceptions. There's no stats. The only stats you have are pride, character and the respect that people have for you as a group."
But when it comes to the offensive line at the University of Illinois, two signs show the marked improvement.
Illinois ranks eighth nationally and first in the Big Ten in rushing offense (243.4 yards per game). Not coincidentally, the Illini are one victory away from bowl eligibility when they host Michigan in a key Big Ten game in sold-out Memorial Stadium tonight.
Illinois hasn't defeated Michigan at home since 1983. Over the last 50 years, Illinois is 1-20-1 against the Wolverines in Memorial Stadium.
If the Illini want to make a statement in front of a national TV audience, the offensive line must handle a Wolverines defense loaded with All-America recruits.
Although Michigan had trouble stopping mobile quarterbacks in losses to Appalachian State and Oregon to start the season, it all starts up front.
"Any time you can run the ball the way we've run it, they obviously had a lot to do what what we've done there," Illinois coach Ron Zook said.
After former offensive line coach Ed Warriner installed the blocking schemes for a spread option offense before leaving to work as offensive coordinator at Kansas, Wolford took over a unit mixed with experience, newcomers and players swapping positions.
While Illinois must also block the perimeter better than last weekend in a loss at Iowa, the running game works behind an offensive line directed by Wolford, a lineman at Kansas State during the school's remarkable turnaround. Wolford coaches a style called "aggressive."
"He would have been one of the dirtiest guys you've ever seen play," said left tackle Xavier Fulton.
Wolford instilled pride, confidence and a thought process to have the line play "a step ahead of the game," he said.
"He wants us to play the game mentally," left guard Martin O'Donnell said. "He wants us to get to the line, predict what the defense is going to do by judging cues they give us. He says to look at what the defensive line is doing, what the safeties are doing, where the linebackers are lined up.
"He has a more aggressive style than coach Warriner, who had to teach us an all-new offense. We went from a pro-style attack to the spread and option stuff. He had to teach a lot of installation. Coach Wolford gets to work with us more, be more aggressive."
There's that word again.
"In the Big Ten, you better be aggressive or you're going to get ate up," Zook said.
Fulton's move from defensive tackle to left tackle appeared risky before the season but paid off.
O'Donnell is the last man standing from five heralded offensive linemen in the class of 2004. Junior center Ryan McDonald followed his father, Phil, who played at Illinois from 1974 to 1976. Ryan McDonald's other scholarship offers came from Mid-American Conference schools.
Sophomore right guard Jon Asamoah played in five of the last six games as a true freshman. Right tackle Akim Millington started at left tackle last season.
"That's something we wanted to bring back -- a group up front that people respected, have some pride and know they're tough guys up front," Wolford said.
While Michigan sticks with its power running game and play action, even quarterback Juice Williams is surprised by the amount of options the Illini run.
"My idea was that the option was going to be used just to keep the defenses honest, to keep defenses from over-pursuing and crashing down on the run," Williams said.
"It's turned into being the main part of our offense."
It works behind an offensive line that has few measuring sticks except for pride and aggressiveness.
Note
Illinois freshman receiver Brian Gamble and two players redshirting this season were suspended for the game after they were ticketed for possession of alcohol by a minor early Thursday morning.
Gamble, 18, Marc Jackson, 19, and Daryle Ballew, 18, were charged at 2 a.m. outside of a campus-town bar. Gamble and Ballew were also ticketed for being in a bar under the age of 19.
Gamble has eight catches for 77 yards plus five carries for 19 yards while playing in five of the six games. He was withheld from one game because of academic issues.
John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com. For more Illini coverage, read Illini Talk blog at www.sj-r.com and www.pjstar.com.